Illegal Dumping of Construction Waste in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture - January 2011

Illegal Dumping of Construction Waste in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture - January 2011
In Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, there has been a series of illegal dumping of construction waste materials, resulting in approximately 57,000 tons of construction waste not being disposed of properly each year, creating a serious environmental problem. The illegally dumped waste materials include concrete fragments and building materials containing asbestos, and investigations have revealed that the concentration of asbestos in the soil is approximately five times the standard value, and the concentration of pollutants in the surrounding rivers is approximately three times the standard value. As a result, there are concerns about the impact on agricultural water and drinking water.

In accordance with the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law, Utsunomiya City caught two companies involved in illegal dumping in 2010. Each was fined more than 50 million yen. In addition, the city has so far collected approximately 1,000 tons of waste materials from the illegal dumping site and conducted cleanup work. Restoration of the contaminated area is expected to cost approximately 300 million yen.

As a measure to prevent recurrence, about 10 surveillance cameras have been installed in areas of the city where illegal dumping frequently occurs, and monitoring is being conducted around the clock. In addition, 5,000 copies of educational posters on illegal dumping prevention are distributed throughout the city, and cleanup activities are conducted four times a year in cooperation with local residents. As a result, the number of incidents has decreased by approximately 15% from the previous year.

This issue demonstrates the need not only for proper disposal of construction waste, but also to raise environmental awareness throughout the community.